Borgarfjörđur Valley -- Reykholt

Deildartunguhver Hot Springs

180 liters/second of hot water at approximately 100°C is pumped by pipeline to heat the
nearby towns of Borgarnes (34km) and Akranes (64km), and surrounding greenhouses. [jwz]

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Was it hot? Just about boiling. Did it smell of sulfur? Wow! [dwb]

Snorri Sturulsson

The famous writer and statesman Snorri Sturluson (1179-1241) lived here. Snorri Sturluson is reputed to have
written "Heimskringla"- a history of the kings of Norway and the Poetic Edda which teaches poeticmetres and
tales of the heathen gods of Germanic mythology.

This is the well preserved thermal pool from the Middle Ages, where Snorri
used to bathe. Snorri Sturluson was murdered in the tunnel which led from here to his house. The entrance to
this tunnel is seen in the background. [dwb]

Snorri Sturulsson's farm house and church was located on this land just above
the pool. The National Museum of Iceland is currently conducting an
archaeological investigation
here. [dwb]

Hraunfossar

The Hraunfossar Falls are clear, cold springs that well up through the lava and run in falls and
rapids into the Hvítá River.

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Barnafoss

Barnafoss (The Children's Waterfalls) has been evolving through recorded history, as the river has
dug itself down through the lava and runs in a deep and narrow ravine. There used to be a stone
arch spanning the river, forming a link between the districts of Hálsasveit and Hvítársíđa.